Florida Senate - 2019 SB 190
By Senator Stargel
22-01308B-19 2019190__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to education; amending s. 1009.215,
3 F.S.; revising the academic terms in which certain
4 students are eligible to receive Bright Futures
5 Scholarships; providing that such students may receive
6 the scholarships for the fall term for specified
7 coursework under certain circumstances; amending s.
8 1009.53, F.S.; removing a requirement for a Florida
9 high school graduate to enroll in certain programs
10 within 3 years of graduation from high school in order
11 to receive funds from the Florida Bright Futures
12 Scholarship Program; expanding the Florida Bright
13 Futures Scholarship Program to include the Florida
14 Gold Seal CAPE Scholarship; conforming provisions to
15 changes made by the act; removing a limitation of 45
16 semester credit hours or the equivalent for an annual
17 award for the scholarship program; requiring an
18 institution that receives scholarship funds for summer
19 terms to certify to the department certain funding
20 information and remit any undisbursed funds within a
21 specified period of time; amending s. 1009.531, F.S.;
22 expanding the eligibility for an initial award of a
23 scholarship under the Florida Bright Futures
24 Scholarship Program to include students who earn a
25 high school diploma from a private school; modifying
26 the date by which certain students must apply for a
27 scholarship under the program; deleting provisions
28 relating to scholarship eligibility and application
29 requirements for certain students who graduated from
30 high school during specified years; extending the
31 amount of time in which a student may reapply for an
32 award to 5 years after high school graduation;
33 extending the amount of time in which a student who
34 enlists in the United States Armed Forces immediately
35 after high school may apply for an award to 5 years
36 after separation from active duty; providing that a
37 student who is unable to accept an initial award due
38 to a religious or service obligation may apply for an
39 award within 5 years after the completion of his or
40 her religious or service obligation; requiring that
41 school districts provide a Florida Bright Futures
42 Scholarship Evaluation Report and Key only to students
43 in specified grades; allowing a student who does not
44 meet certain requirements for a program award
45 additional time to meet such requirements under
46 certain conditions; providing that such students who
47 timely meet the requirements must receive an award for
48 the full academic year; revising the minimum
49 examination scores required for a student to be
50 eligible for a Florida Academic Scholars award or a
51 Florida Medallion Scholars award; requiring the
52 Department of Education to develop a method for
53 determining the required examination scores which
54 ensures equivalency between specified examinations and
55 is consistent with specified limitations; requiring
56 the department to publish any changes to examination
57 score requirements; conforming a provision to changes
58 made by the act; amending s. 1009.532, F.S.; revising
59 student eligibility requirements for renewal of
60 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program awards;
61 removing obsolete language; conforming provisions to
62 changes made by the act; amending s. 1009.536, F.S.;
63 permitting certain Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars to
64 receive an award from a specified funding source;
65 providing grade point average requirements for Florida
66 Gold Seal CAPE Scholars; removing limitations for
67 certain academic years on the number of credit hours
68 to which a student may apply a Florida Gold Seal
69 Vocational Scholarship; reenacting and amending s.
70 1011.62, F.S.; removing a requirement that the total
71 allocation relating to the federally connected student
72 supplement be prorated under certain circumstances;
73 revising the distribution formula for a certain
74 portion of the safe schools allocation; deleting
75 obsolete language; creating the funding compression
76 allocation; providing the purpose of the allocation;
77 authorizing funding for the annual allocation for
78 specified purposes; providing the calculation for the
79 allocation; deleting obsolete language; amending s.
80 1011.80, F.S.; removing a limitation on the maximum
81 amount of funding that may be appropriated for
82 performance funding relating to funds for operation of
83 workforce education programs; amending s. 1011.81,
84 F.S.; removing a limitation on the maximum amount of
85 funding that may be appropriated for performance
86 funding relating to industry certifications for
87 Florida College System institutions; providing an
88 effective date.
89
90 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
91
92 Section 1. Effective July 1, 2019, and upon the expiration
93 and reversion of the amendment made to section 1009.215, Florida
94 Statutes, pursuant to section 13 of chapter 2018-10, Laws of
95 Florida, subsection (3) of section 1009.215, Florida Statutes,
96 is amended to read:
97 1009.215 Student enrollment pilot program for the spring
98 and summer terms.—
99 (3) Students who are enrolled in the pilot program and who
100 are eligible to receive Bright Futures Scholarships under ss.
101 1009.53-1009.536 are shall be eligible to receive the
102 scholarship award for attendance during the spring and summer
103 terms. This student cohort is also eligible to receive Bright
104 Futures Scholarships during the fall term which may be used for
105 off-campus or online coursework, if Bright Futures Scholarship
106 funding is provided by the Legislature for three terms for other
107 eligible students during that academic year no more than 2
108 semesters or the equivalent in any fiscal year, including the
109 summer term.
110 Section 2. Subsections (1), (2), and (3), paragraph (a) of
111 subsection (4), subsection (5), and subsection (7) of section
112 1009.53, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
113 1009.53 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.—
114 (1) The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is
115 created to establish a lottery-funded scholarship program to
116 reward any Florida high school graduate who merits recognition
117 of high academic achievement and who enrolls in a degree
118 program, certificate program, or applied technology program at
119 an eligible Florida public or private postsecondary education
120 institution within 3 years of graduation from high school.
121 (2) The Bright Futures Scholarship Program consists of four
122 three types of awards: the Florida Academic Scholarship, the
123 Florida Medallion Scholarship, the Florida Gold Seal CAPE
124 Scholarship, and the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship.
125 (3) The Department of Education shall administer the Bright
126 Futures Scholarship Program according to rules and procedures
127 established by the State Board of Education. A single
128 application must be sufficient for a student to apply for any of
129 the three types of awards. The department shall advertise the
130 availability of the scholarship program and shall notify
131 students, teachers, parents, certified school counselors, and
132 principals or other relevant school administrators of the
133 criteria and application procedures. The department must begin
134 this process of notification no later than January 1 of each
135 year.
136 (4) Funding for the Bright Futures Scholarship Program must
137 be allocated from the Education Enhancement Trust Fund and must
138 be provided before allocations from that fund are calculated for
139 disbursement to other educational entities.
140 (a) If funds appropriated are not adequate to provide the
141 maximum allowable award to each eligible applicant, awards in
142 all three components of the program must be prorated using the
143 same percentage reduction.
144 (5) The department shall issue awards from the scholarship
145 program annually. Annual awards may be for up to 45 semester
146 credit hours or the equivalent. Before the registration period
147 each semester, the department shall transmit payment for each
148 award to the president or director of the postsecondary
149 education institution, or his or her representative, except that
150 the department may withhold payment if the receiving institution
151 fails to report or to make refunds to the department as required
152 in this section.
153 (a) Within 30 days after the end of regular registration
154 each semester, the educational institution shall certify to the
155 department the eligibility status of each student who receives
156 an award. After the end of the drop and add period, an
157 institution is not required to reevaluate or revise a student’s
158 eligibility status; however, an institution must make a refund
159 to the department within 30 days after the end of the semester
160 of any funds received for courses dropped by a student or
161 courses from which a student has withdrawn after the end of the
162 drop and add period, unless the student has been granted an
163 exception by the department pursuant to subsection (11).
164 (b) An institution that receives funds from the program for
165 the fall and spring terms shall certify to the department the
166 amount of funds disbursed to each student and shall remit to the
167 department any undisbursed advances within 60 days after the end
168 of regular registration. An institution that receives funds from
169 the program for the summer term shall certify to the department
170 the amount of funds disbursed to each student and shall remit to
171 the department any undisbursed advances within 30 days after the
172 end of the summer term.
173 (c) Each institution that receives moneys through this
174 program shall provide for a financial audit, as defined in s.
175 11.45, conducted by an independent certified public accountant
176 or the Auditor General for each fiscal year in which the
177 institution expends program moneys in excess of $100,000. At
178 least every 2 years, the audit shall include an examination of
179 the institution’s administration of the program and the
180 institution’s accounting of the moneys for the program since the
181 last examination of the institution’s administration of the
182 program. The report on the audit must be submitted to the
183 department within 9 months after the end of the fiscal year. The
184 department may conduct its own annual audit of an institution’s
185 administration of the program. The department may request a
186 refund of any moneys overpaid to the institution for the
187 program. The department may suspend or revoke an institution’s
188 eligibility to receive future moneys for the program if the
189 department finds that an institution has not complied with this
190 section. The institution must remit within 60 days any refund
191 requested in accordance with this subsection.
192 (d) Any institution that is not subject to an audit
193 pursuant to this subsection shall attest, under penalty of
194 perjury, that the moneys were used in compliance with law. The
195 attestation shall be made annually in a form and format
196 determined by the department.
197 (7) A student may receive only one type of award from the
198 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program at any given a time,
199 but may transfer from one type of award to another through the
200 renewal application process, if the student’s eligibility status
201 changes. However, a student is not eligible to transfer from a
202 Florida Medallion Scholarship, a Florida Gold Seal CAPE
203 Scholarship, or a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship to a
204 Florida Academic Scholarship. A student who receives an award
205 from the program may also receive a federal family education
206 loan or a federal direct loan, and the value of the award must
207 be considered in the certification or calculation of the
208 student’s loan eligibility.
209 Section 3. Section 1009.531, Florida Statutes, is amended
210 to read:
211 1009.531 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
212 student eligibility requirements for initial awards.—
213 (1) In order to be eligible for an initial award from any
214 of the three types of scholarships under the Florida Bright
215 Futures Scholarship Program, a student must:
216 (a) Be a Florida resident as defined in s. 1009.40 and
217 rules of the State Board of Education.
218 (b) Earn a standard Florida high school diploma pursuant to
219 s. 1002.3105(5), s. 1003.4281, or s. 1003.4282 or a high school
220 equivalency diploma pursuant to s. 1003.435 unless:
221 1. The student completes a home education program according
222 to s. 1002.41; or
223 2. The student earns a high school diploma from a non
224 Florida school while living with a parent or guardian who is on
225 military or public service assignment away from Florida; or
226 3. The student earns a high school diploma from a Florida
227 private school operating pursuant to s. 1002.42.
228 (c) Be accepted by and enroll in an eligible Florida public
229 or independent postsecondary education institution.
230 (d) Be enrolled for at least 6 semester credit hours or the
231 equivalent in quarter hours or clock hours.
232 (e) Not have been found guilty of, or entered a plea of
233 nolo contendere to, a felony charge, unless the student has been
234 granted clemency by the Governor and Cabinet sitting as the
235 Executive Office of Clemency.
236 (f) Apply for a scholarship from the program by high school
237 graduation. However, a student who graduates from high school
238 midyear must apply no later than December August 31 of the
239 student’s graduation year in order to be evaluated for and, if
240 eligible, receive an award for the current academic year.
241 (2)(a) A student graduating from high school prior to the
242 2010-2011 academic year is eligible to accept an initial award
243 for 3 years following high school graduation and to accept a
244 renewal award for 7 years following high school graduation. A
245 student who applies for an award by high school graduation and
246 who meets all other eligibility requirements, but who does not
247 accept his or her award, may reapply during subsequent
248 application periods up to 3 years after high school graduation.
249 For a student who enlists in the United States Armed Forces
250 immediately after completion of high school, the 3-year
251 eligibility period for his or her initial award shall begin upon
252 the date of separation from active duty. For a student who is
253 receiving a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship and discontinues
254 his or her education to enlist in the United States Armed
255 Forces, the remainder of his or her 7-year renewal period shall
256 commence upon the date of separation from active duty.
257 (b) Students graduating from high school in the 2010-2011
258 and 2011-2012 academic years are eligible to accept an initial
259 award for 3 years following high school graduation and to accept
260 a renewal award for 5 years following high school graduation. A
261 student who applies for an award by high school graduation and
262 who meets all other eligibility requirements, but who does not
263 accept his or her award, may reapply during subsequent
264 application periods up to 3 years after high school graduation.
265 For a student who enlists in the United States Armed Forces
266 immediately after completion of high school, the 3-year
267 eligibility period for his or her initial award and the 5-year
268 renewal period shall begin upon the date of separation from
269 active duty. For a student who is receiving a Florida Bright
270 Futures Scholarship award and discontinues his or her education
271 to enlist in the United States Armed Forces, the remainder of
272 his or her 5-year renewal period shall commence upon the date of
273 separation from active duty. If a course of study is not
274 completed after 5 academic years, an exception of 1 year to the
275 renewal timeframe may be granted due to a verifiable illness or
276 other documented emergency pursuant to s. 1009.40(1)(b)4.
277 (c) A student graduating from high school in the 2012-2013
278 academic year and thereafter is eligible to receive an accept an
279 initial award for 2 years following high school graduation and
280 to accept a renewal award for 5 years following high school
281 graduation. A student who applies for an award by high school
282 graduation and who meets all other eligibility requirements, but
283 who does not accept his or her award, may reapply during
284 subsequent application periods up to 5 2 years after high school
285 graduation. For a student who enlists in the United States Armed
286 Forces immediately after completion of high school, the 2-year
287 eligibility period for his or her initial award and the 5-year
288 renewal period shall begin upon the date of separation from
289 active duty. For a student who is receiving a Florida Bright
290 Futures Scholarship award and discontinues his or her education
291 to enlist in the United States Armed Forces, the remainder of
292 his or her 5-year renewal period shall commence upon the date of
293 separation from active duty. For a student who is unable to
294 accept an initial award immediately after completion of high
295 school due to a full-time religious or service obligation
296 lasting at least 18 months which begins within 1 year after
297 completion of high school, the 2-year eligibility period for his
298 or her initial award and the 5-year renewal period begins begin
299 upon the completion of his or her religious or service
300 obligation. The organization sponsoring the full-time religious
301 or service obligation must meet the requirements for nonprofit
302 status under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or be a
303 federal government service organization, including, but not
304 limited to, the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps programs. The
305 obligation must be documented in writing and verified by the
306 entity for which the student completed the obligation on a
307 standardized form prescribed by the department. If a course of
308 study is not completed after 5 academic years, an exception of 1
309 year to the renewal timeframe may be granted due to a verifiable
310 illness or other documented emergency pursuant to s.
311 1009.40(1)(b)4.
312 (3) For purposes of calculating the grade point average to
313 be used in determining initial eligibility for a Florida Bright
314 Futures Scholarship, the department shall assign additional
315 weights to grades earned in the following courses:
316 (a) Courses identified in the course code directory as
317 Advanced Placement, pre-International Baccalaureate,
318 International Baccalaureate, International General Certificate
319 of Secondary Education (pre-AICE), or Advanced International
320 Certificate of Education.
321 (b) Courses designated as academic dual enrollment courses
322 in the statewide course numbering system.
323
324 The department may assign additional weights to courses, other
325 than those described in paragraphs (a) and (b), that are
326 identified by the Department of Education as containing rigorous
327 academic curriculum and performance standards. The additional
328 weight assigned to a course pursuant to this subsection shall
329 not exceed 0.5 per course. The weighted system shall be
330 developed and distributed to all high schools in the state prior
331 to January 1, 1998. The department may determine a student’s
332 eligibility status during the senior year before graduation and
333 may inform the student of the award at that time.
334 (4) Each school district shall annually provide to each
335 high school student in grade 11 or 12 a complete and accurate
336 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Evaluation Report and Key.
337 The report shall be disseminated at the beginning of each school
338 year. The report must include all high school coursework
339 attempted, the number of credits earned toward each type of
340 award, and the calculation of the grade point average for each
341 award. The report must also identify all requirements not met
342 per award, including the grade point average requirement, as
343 well as identify the awards for which the student has met the
344 academic requirements. The student report cards must contain a
345 disclosure that the grade point average calculated for purposes
346 of the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program may differ
347 from the grade point average on the report card.
348 (5) A student who wishes to qualify for a particular award
349 within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, but who
350 does not meet all of the requirements for that level of award by
351 the applicable deadlines, may be allowed additional time to
352 complete the requirements, nevertheless, receive the award if
353 the principal of the student’s school or the district
354 superintendent verifies that the deficiency is caused by the
355 fact that school district personnel provided inaccurate or
356 incomplete information to the student. The school district must
357 provide a means for the student to correct the deficiencies and
358 the student must correct them, either by completing comparable
359 work at the postsecondary institution or by completing a
360 directed individualized study program developed and administered
361 by the school district. If the student does not complete the
362 requirements by December 31 immediately following high school
363 graduation, the student is ineligible to participate in the
364 program. If the student completes the requirements by December
365 31, the student must receive the award for the full academic
366 year, including the fall term.
367 (6)(a) The State Board of Education shall publicize the
368 examination score required for a student to be eligible for a
369 Florida Academic Scholars award, pursuant to s. 1009.534(1)(a)
370 or (b), as follows:
371 1. For high school students graduating in the 2018-2019 and
372 2019-2020 academic years, a student must achieve an SAT combined
373 score of 1290 or an ACT composite score of 29.
374 2. For high school students graduating in the 2020-2021
375 academic year and thereafter, a student must achieve the
376 required examination scores published by the department, which
377 are determined as provided in subsection (c) High school
378 students must earn an SAT score of 1290 which corresponds to the
379 89th SAT percentile rank or a concordant ACT score of 29.
380 (b) The State Board of Education shall publicize the
381 examination score required for a student to be eligible for a
382 Florida Medallion Scholars award, pursuant to s. 1009.535(1)(a)
383 or (b), as follows:
384 1. For high school students graduating in the 2018-2019 and
385 2019-2020 academic years, a student must achieve an SAT combined
386 score of 1170 or an ACT composite score of 26.
387 2. For high school students graduating in the 2020-2021
388 academic year and thereafter, a student must achieve the
389 required examination scores published by the department, which
390 are determined as provided in subsection (c) High school
391 students must earn an SAT score of 1170 which corresponds to the
392 75th SAT percentile rank or a concordant ACT score of 26.
393 (c) To ensure that the required examination scores
394 represent top student performance and are equivalent between the
395 SAT and ACT, the department shall develop a method for
396 determining the required examination scores which incorporates
397 all of the following:
398 1. The minimum required SAT score for the Florida Academic
399 Scholarship must be set no lower than the 89th national
400 percentile on the SAT. The department may adjust the required
401 SAT score only if the required score drops below the 89th
402 national percentile, and any such adjustment must be applied to
403 the bottom of the SAT score range that is concordant to the ACT.
404 2. The minimum required SAT score for the Florida Medallion
405 Scholarship must be set no lower than the 75th national
406 percentile on the SAT. The department may adjust the required
407 SAT score only if the required score drops below the 75th
408 national percentile, and any such adjustment must be made to the
409 bottom of the SAT score range that is concordant to the ACT.
410 3. The required ACT scores must be made concordant to the
411 required SAT scores, using the latest published national
412 concordance table developed jointly by the College Board and
413 ACT, Inc.
414 (d) Before each school year, the department shall publish
415 any changes to the examination score requirements that apply to
416 students graduating in the next 2 years The SAT percentile ranks
417 and corresponding SAT scores specified in paragraphs (a) and (b)
418 are based on the SAT percentile ranks for 2010 college-bound
419 seniors in critical reading and mathematics as reported by the
420 College Board. The next highest SAT score is used when the
421 percentile ranks do not directly correspond.
422 Section 4. Section 1009.532, Florida Statutes, is amended
423 to read:
424 1009.532 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
425 student eligibility requirements for renewal awards.—
426 (1) To be eligible to renew a scholarship from any of the
427 three types of scholarships under the Florida Bright Futures
428 Scholarship Program, a student must:
429 (a) Effective for students funded in the 2009-2010 academic
430 year and thereafter, earn at least 24 semester credit hours or
431 the equivalent in the last academic year in which the student
432 earned a scholarship if the student was enrolled full time, or a
433 prorated number of credit hours as determined by the Department
434 of Education if the student was enrolled less than full time for
435 any part of the academic year. For students initially eligible
436 prior to the 2010-2011 academic term, if a student fails to earn
437 the minimum number of hours required to renew the scholarship,
438 the student shall lose his or her eligibility for renewal for a
439 period equivalent to 1 academic year. Such student is eligible
440 to restore the award the following academic year if the student
441 earns the hours for which he or she was enrolled at the level
442 defined by the department and meets the grade point average for
443 renewal. A student is eligible for such restoration one time.
444 The department shall notify eligible recipients of the
445 provisions of this paragraph. Each institution shall notify
446 award recipients of the provisions of this paragraph during the
447 registration process.
448 (b) Maintain the cumulative grade point average required by
449 the scholarship program, except that:
450 1. If a recipient’s grades fall beneath the average
451 required to renew a Florida Academic Scholarship, but are
452 sufficient to renew a Florida Medallion Scholarship, a Florida
453 Gold Seal CAPE Scholarship, or a Florida Gold Seal Vocational
454 Scholarship, the Department of Education may grant a renewal
455 from one of those other scholarship programs, if the student
456 meets the renewal eligibility requirements;
457 2. For students initially eligible prior to the 2010-2011
458 academic term, if at any time during the eligibility period a
459 student’s grades are insufficient to renew the scholarship, the
460 student may restore eligibility by improving the grade point
461 average to the required level. A student is eligible for such a
462 restoration one time. The Legislature encourages education
463 institutions to assist students to calculate whether or not it
464 is possible to raise the grade point average during the summer
465 term. If the institution determines that it is possible, the
466 education institution may so inform the department, which may
467 reserve the student’s award if funds are available. The renewal,
468 however, must not be granted until the student achieves the
469 required cumulative grade point average. If the summer term is
470 not sufficient to raise the grade point average to the required
471 renewal level, the student’s next opportunity for renewal is the
472 fall semester of the following academic year; or
473 2.3. For students initially eligible in the 2010-2011
474 academic term and thereafter, if at any time during a student’s
475 first academic year the student’s grades are insufficient to
476 renew the scholarship, the student may restore eligibility by
477 improving the grade point average to the required level. A
478 student is eligible for such a restoration one time. The
479 Legislature encourages education institutions to assist students
480 to calculate whether or not it is possible to raise the grade
481 point average during the summer term. If the education
482 institution determines that it is possible, the institution may
483 so inform the department, which may reserve the student’s award
484 if funds are available. The renewal, however, must not be
485 granted until the student achieves the required cumulative grade
486 point average. If the summer term is not sufficient to raise the
487 grade point average to the required renewal level, the student’s
488 next opportunity for renewal is the fall semester of the
489 following academic year.
490 (c) Reimburse or make satisfactory arrangements to
491 reimburse the institution for the award amount received for
492 courses dropped after the end of the drop and add period or
493 courses from which the student withdraws after the end of the
494 drop and add period unless the student has received an exception
495 pursuant to s. 1009.53(11).
496 (2) For students initially eligible in the 2010-2011
497 academic term and thereafter, and unless otherwise provided in
498 this section, if a student does not meet the requirements for
499 renewal of a scholarship because of lack of completion of
500 sufficient credit hours or insufficient grades, the scholarship
501 shall be renewed only if the student failed to complete
502 sufficient credit hours or to meet sufficient grade requirements
503 due to verifiable illness or other documented emergency, in
504 which case the student may be granted an exception from academic
505 requirements pursuant to s. 1009.40(1)(b)4.
506 (3)(a) A student who is initially eligible prior to the
507 2010-2011 academic year and is enrolled in a program that
508 terminates in an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree may
509 receive an award for a maximum of 110 percent of the number of
510 credit hours required to complete the program. A student who is
511 enrolled in a program that terminates in a career certificate
512 may receive an award for a maximum of 110 percent of the credit
513 hours or clock hours required to complete the program up to 90
514 credit hours.
515 (b) Students who are initially eligible in the 2010-2011
516 and 2011-2012 academic years may receive an award for a maximum
517 of 100 percent of the number of credit hours required to
518 complete an associate degree program or a baccalaureate degree
519 program or receive an award for a maximum of 100 percent of the
520 credit hours or clock hours required to complete up to 90 credit
521 hours of a program that terminates in a career certificate.
522 (a)(c) A student who is initially eligible in the 2012-2013
523 academic year and thereafter may receive an award for a maximum
524 of 100 percent of the number of credit hours required to
525 complete an associate degree program, a baccalaureate degree
526 program, or a postsecondary career certificate program or, for a
527 Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award, may receive an
528 award for a maximum of 100 percent of the number of credit hours
529 or equivalent clock hours required to complete one of the
530 following at a Florida public or nonpublic education institution
531 that offers these specific programs: for an applied technology
532 diploma program as defined in s. 1004.02(7), up to 60 credit
533 hours or equivalent clock hours; for a technical degree
534 education program as defined in s. 1004.02(13), up to the number
535 of hours required for a specific degree not to exceed 72 credit
536 hours or equivalent clock hours; or for a career certificate
537 program as defined in s. 1004.02(20), up to the number of hours
538 required for a specific certificate not to exceed 72 credit
539 hours or equivalent clock hours. A student who transfers from
540 one of these program levels to another program level becomes
541 eligible for the higher of the two credit hour limits.
542 (b)(d)1. A student who is initially eligible in the 2017
543 2018 academic year and thereafter for a Florida Gold Seal CAPE
544 Scholars award under s. 1009.536(2) may receive an award for a
545 maximum of 100 percent of the number of credit hours or
546 equivalent clock hours required to complete one of the following
547 at a Florida public or nonpublic education institution that
548 offers these specific programs: for an applied technology
549 diploma program as defined in s. 1004.02(7), up to 60 credit
550 hours or equivalent clock hours; for a technical degree
551 education program as defined in s. 1004.02(13), up to the number
552 of hours required for a specific degree, not to exceed 72 credit
553 hours or equivalent clock hours; or for a career certificate
554 program as defined in s. 1004.02(20), up to the number of hours
555 required for a specific certificate, not to exceed 72 credit
556 hours or equivalent clock hours. A student who transfers from
557 one of these program levels to another program level is eligible
558 for the higher of the two credit hour limits.
559 2. A Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholar who completes a
560 technical degree education program as defined in s. 1004.02(13)
561 may also receive an award for:
562 a. A maximum of 60 credit hours for a bachelor of science
563 degree program for which there is a statewide associate in
564 science degree program to bachelor of science degree program
565 articulation agreement; or
566 b. A maximum of 60 credit hours for a bachelor of applied
567 science degree program at a Florida College System institution.
568 (4) A student who receives an initial award during the
569 spring term shall be evaluated for scholarship renewal after the
570 completion of a full academic year, which begins with the fall
571 term.
572 (5) A student who receives an award and is subsequently
573 determined ineligible due to updated grade or hour information
574 may not receive a disbursement for a subsequent term, unless the
575 student successfully restores the award.
576 Section 5. Subsections (3), (4), and (5) of section
577 1009.536, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
578 1009.536 Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars and Florida
579 Gold Seal CAPE Scholars awards.—The Florida Gold Seal Vocational
580 Scholars award and the Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars award are
581 created within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program to
582 recognize and reward academic achievement and career preparation
583 by high school students who wish to continue their education.
584 (3) A Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar or a Florida
585 Gold Seal CAPE Scholar who is enrolled in a public or nonpublic
586 postsecondary education institution is eligible for an award
587 equal to the amount specified in the General Appropriations Act
588 to assist with the payment of educational expenses.
589 (4) To be eligible for a renewal award as a Florida Gold
590 Seal Vocational Scholar or a Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholar, a
591 student must maintain the equivalent of a cumulative grade point
592 average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale with an opportunity for
593 restoration one time as provided in this chapter.
594 (5)(a) A student who is initially eligible prior to the
595 2010-2011 academic year may earn a Florida Gold Seal Vocational
596 Scholarship for 110 percent of the number of credit hours
597 required to complete the program, up to 90 credit hours or the
598 equivalent.
599 (b) Students who are initially eligible in the 2010-2011
600 and 2011-2012 academic years may earn a Florida Gold Seal
601 Vocational Scholarship for 100 percent of the number of credit
602 hours required to complete the program, up to 90 credit hours or
603 the equivalent.
604 (c) A student who is initially eligible in the 2012-2013
605 academic year and thereafter may earn a Florida Gold Seal
606 Vocational Scholarship for a maximum of 100 percent of the
607 number of credit hours or equivalent clock hours required to
608 complete one of the following at a Florida public or nonpublic
609 education institution that offers these specific programs: for
610 an applied technology diploma program as defined in s.
611 1004.02(7), up to 60 credit hours or equivalent clock hours; for
612 a technical degree education program as defined in s.
613 1004.02(13), up to the number of hours required for a specific
614 degree not to exceed 72 credit hours or equivalent clock hours;
615 or for a career certificate program as defined in s.
616 1004.02(20), up to the number of hours required for a specific
617 certificate not to exceed 72 credit hours or equivalent clock
618 hours.
619 (b)(d)1. A student who is initially eligible in the 2017
620 2018 academic year and thereafter for a Florida Gold Seal CAPE
621 Scholars award under subsection (2) may receive an award for a
622 maximum of 100 percent of the number of credit hours or
623 equivalent clock hours required to complete one of the following
624 at a Florida public or nonpublic education institution that
625 offers these specific programs: for an applied technology
626 diploma program as defined in s. 1004.02(7), up to 60 credit
627 hours or equivalent clock hours; for a technical degree
628 education program as defined in s. 1004.02(13), up to the number
629 of hours required for a specific degree, not to exceed 72 credit
630 hours or equivalent clock hours; or for a career certificate
631 program as defined in s. 1004.02(20), up to the number of hours
632 required for a specific certificate, not to exceed 72 credit
633 hours or equivalent clock hours. A student who transfers from
634 one of these program levels to another program level is eligible
635 for the higher of the two credit hour limits.
636 2. A Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholar who completes a
637 technical degree education program as defined in s. 1004.02(13)
638 may also receive an award for:
639 a. A maximum of 60 credit hours for a bachelor of science
640 degree program for which there is a statewide associate in
641 science degree program to bachelor of science degree program
642 articulation agreement; or
643 b. A maximum of 60 credit hours for a bachelor of applied
644 science degree program at a Florida College System institution.
645 Section 6. Paragraph (d) of subsection (13) and subsection
646 (15) of section 1011.62, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
647 subsection (17) of that section is reenacted and amended, to
648 read:
649 1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual
650 allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each
651 district for operation of schools is not determined in the
652 annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing
653 the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as
654 follows:
655 (13) FEDERALLY CONNECTED STUDENT SUPPLEMENT.—The federally
656 connected student supplement is created to provide supplemental
657 funding for school districts to support the education of
658 students connected with federally owned military installations,
659 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) real
660 property, and Indian lands. To be eligible for this supplement,
661 the district must be eligible for federal Impact Aid Program
662 funds under s. 8003 of Title VIII of the Elementary and
663 Secondary Education Act of 1965. The supplement shall be
664 allocated annually to each eligible school district in the
665 General Appropriations Act. The supplement shall be the sum of
666 the student allocation and an exempt property allocation.
667 (d) The amount allocated for each eligible school district
668 shall be recalculated during the year using actual student
669 membership, as amended, from the most recent February survey and
670 the tax-exempt valuation from the most recent assessment roll.
671 Upon recalculation, if the total allocation is greater than the
672 amount provided in the General Appropriations Act, it must be
673 prorated to the level of the appropriation based on each
674 district’s share of the total recalculated amount.
675 (15) SAFE SCHOOLS ALLOCATION.—A safe schools allocation is
676 created to provide funding to assist school districts in their
677 compliance with s. 1006.07, with priority given to implementing
678 the district’s school resource officer program pursuant to s.
679 1006.12. Each school district shall receive a minimum safe
680 schools allocation in an amount provided in the General
681 Appropriations Act. Of the remaining balance of the safe schools
682 allocation, one-third two-thirds shall be allocated to school
683 districts based on the most recent official Florida Crime Index
684 provided by the Department of Law Enforcement and two-thirds
685 one-third shall be allocated based on each school district’s
686 proportionate share of the state’s total unweighted full-time
687 equivalent student enrollment. Any additional funds appropriated
688 to this allocation in the 2018-2019 fiscal year to the school
689 resource officer program established pursuant to s. 1006.12
690 shall be used exclusively for employing or contracting for
691 school resource officers, which shall be in addition to the
692 number of officers employed or contracted for in the 2017-2018
693 fiscal year.
694 (17) FUNDING COMPRESSION ALLOCATION.—The Legislature may
695 provide an annual funding compression allocation in the General
696 Appropriations Act. The allocation is created to provide
697 additional funding to school districts and developmental
698 research schools whose total funds per FTE in the prior year
699 were less than the statewide average. Using the most recent
700 prior year FEFP calculation for each eligible school district,
701 the total funds per FTE shall be subtracted from the state
702 average funds per FTE, not including any adjustments made
703 pursuant to paragraph (18)(b). The resulting funds per FTE
704 difference, or a portion thereof, as designated in the General
705 Appropriations Act, shall then be multiplied by the school
706 district’s total unweighted FTE to provide the allocation. If
707 the calculated funds are greater than the amount included in the
708 General Appropriations Act, they must be prorated to the
709 appropriation amount based on each participating school
710 district’s share. This subsection expires July 1, 2019.
711 Section 7. Paragraph (b) of subsection (6) of section
712 1011.80, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
713 1011.80 Funds for operation of workforce education
714 programs.—
715 (6)
716 (b) Performance funding for industry certifications for
717 school district workforce education programs is contingent upon
718 specific appropriation in the General Appropriations Act and
719 shall be determined as follows:
720 1. Occupational areas for which industry certifications may
721 be earned, as established in the General Appropriations Act, are
722 eligible for performance funding. Priority shall be given to the
723 occupational areas emphasized in state, national, or corporate
724 grants provided to Florida educational institutions.
725 2. The Chancellor of Career and Adult Education shall
726 identify the industry certifications eligible for funding on the
727 CAPE Postsecondary Industry Certification Funding List approved
728 by the State Board of Education pursuant to s. 1008.44, based on
729 the occupational areas specified in the General Appropriations
730 Act.
731 3. Each school district shall be provided $1,000 for each
732 industry certification earned by a workforce education student.
733 The maximum amount of funding appropriated for performance
734 funding pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to $15
735 million annually. If funds are insufficient to fully fund the
736 calculated total award, such funds shall be prorated.
737 Section 8. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
738 1011.81, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
739 1011.81 Florida College System Program Fund.—
740 (2) Performance funding for industry certifications for
741 Florida College System institutions is contingent upon specific
742 appropriation in the General Appropriations Act and shall be
743 determined as follows:
744 (c) Each Florida College System institution shall be
745 provided $1,000 for each industry certification earned by a
746 student. The maximum amount of funding appropriated for
747 performance funding pursuant to this subsection shall be limited
748 to $15 million annually. If funds are insufficient to fully fund
749 the calculated total award, such funds shall be prorated.
750 Section 9. This act shall take effect July 1, 2019.